Many US Dairy Farms Have Yet To Deploy Increased Health Protections Amid Spread Of Avian Flu In Cattle

Reuters (5/23, Polansek, Schlitz) reports, “Many U.S. dairy farms have not yet increased health protections against bird flu for employees during an outbreak in cows, according to workers, activists and farmers, worrying health experts about the risk for more human infections of a virus with pandemic potential.” Scientists “are concerned the virus could potentially spread and cause serious illnesses as farmers downplay the risk to workers while employees are not widely aware of cases in U.S. cattle.” This comes as “the U.S. government said on Wednesday that a second dairy worker contracted bird flu since cattle first tested positive in late March.” Regulators “are looking into whether the person was wearing or offered protective equipment.”